How a Simple Change Helped a Golf GM Consistently Shave Four Strokes Off His Game

For golfers, the last four or five holes often feel like a battle. No matter how the course is laid out, those final holes tend to play tougher, leaving players scrambling to salvage their score. This isn’t just a theory—it’s something Dave Bisbee, former GM of Seven Canyons Golf Club in Sedona, Arizona, saw firsthand when Seven Canyons went through a complete course renovation and re-routing of holes for a more balanced and enjoyable experience.

What surprised Dave and the Seven Canyons team was that, regardless of how the holes were arranged, the results didn’t change. The final stretch of holes always played the hardest. Especially when shotgun starts mixed up the sequence, players still struggled most in the closing holes.

That got Dave thinking:

"Could the traditional hole rating system be flawed? Course difficulty is typically assessed based on the individual ratings of holes (par 3s, par 5s, etc.), but it’s how holes are rated that started to raise questions. The tendency is to value length of a hole as the primary element of resistance to scoring above other elements." 

Dave also realized that holes are also assigned difficulty as if they are each played in isolation—as if they are all Hole #1. But in reality, a round of golf only has one first hole. The conditions under which golfers play each hole change dramatically as fatigue, dehydration, and mental wear accumulate. Yet, the system that determines difficulty doesn’t account for this late-round decline in performance.

And as Dave looked at his own scorecards, he realized the data backed up his suspicions: On average, he was one-over-par on the final four holes every round.

A Game-Changing Discovery

Dave wasn’t actively searching for an explanation when he came across a LinkedIn post by DriveForce founder Zach Williams.

In the post, Zach shared something that immediately clicked for Dave: Golfers are the most unique endurance athletes in the world. Unlike traditional athletes in other sports, where performance is often measured by bursts of high-intensity, golfers must sustain consistent focus, energy, and execution over 4-6 hours across 18 holes. Though physicality is an important factor, golfers don’t need to be the fastest or strongest—they need to be mentally and physically locked in for an extended period, something few other sports demand in quite the same way.

This idea resonated deeply with Dave because of his own experience at Seven Canyons. He had already seen the data: late-round fatigue and focus loss weren’t just anecdotal—they were a universal challenge for golfers at every level.

Intrigued, he decided to try DriveForce DF18, a pre-round formula specifically designed to prevent the exact symptoms he had been experiencing. The results were immediate and undeniable:

• Instead of fading late in the round, he maintained focus and energy through all 18 holes.

• His final four-hole average, which had been 1-over-par, flipped to 1-under-par.

• That’s a consistent four-stroke improvement—a number that can be the difference between a good round and a great one.

For those unfamiliar with golf, shaving three or four strokes off your score isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative. It can mean breaking 80, winning a tournament, or simply feeling in control of your game when it matters most.

What Does This Mean for Other Golfers?

This isn’t just about Dave—it’s about what’s possible for any golfer struggling to close out their rounds strong. If a veteran golf coach and former GM of a premier golf course saw this kind of consistent improvement just by starting his round properly fueled, it raises an important question:

How many strokes are you leaving on the course simply because you’re running on empty by the final holes?

Golfers spend thousands of dollars on clubs, lessons, and training aids, yet many still struggle in the late stages of a round. What if the real game-changer isn’t a new swing tip or piece of equipment, but the right preparation?

If you’ve ever felt like the last few holes of your round are stealing your momentum, it might be time to rethink your approach.

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Dave Bisbee’s Bio:

Dave Bisbee is a 40-year veteran of the golf industry, known for his work as the GM/Director of Golf at Seven Canyons in Sedona, Arizona, where he oversaw a multi-million dollar restoration of a premier private golf club. During his tenure, he developed an award-winning staff and returned the club to elite private status.

Though better known in professional circles than the public limelight, Dave’s multi-faceted career includes:

• Teaching over 50,000 golf students through his golf schools

• Providing certification training for PGA Professionals

• Executive coaching for Fortune 500 companies, utilizing golf as a tool in business training

In 2020, Dave published the bestselling book Back on Course: Drive Business Performance Through Golf. This book teaches executives and companies how to leverage the connection between business and golf. Following its success, Dave founded Back on Course Golf, expanding his programs to help a larger audience.

His highly acclaimed Business Golf Suite® has caught the attention of Fortune 500 companies nationwide. Dave offers focused seminars like Business Golf Essentials and experiential programs such as the Strategic Scramble and Team Links Challenge to help executives use golf as a strategic business tool.

The PGA of America has recognized Dave’s innovative golf school and executive training curriculums for continuing education credits.

To learn more about Dave’s Business Golf Essentials or instructional programs, visit www.backoncoursegolf.com.
To order Back on Course: Drive Business Performance Through Golf, visit Amazon or order directly from the website.
For personal inquiries, you can email Dave at: dbisbee@egolfgroup.com.